Page 127 of Open To Negotiation

“Come, come.” She looped her arm through mine. “Asher is waiting for you.” I narrowed my eyes at her as we climbed the stairs. She ignored my question and wouldn’t meet my eyes. Something was definitely up. “Boardroom, honey.” She gave me a little shove toward the door.

I stepped inside and immediately regretted coming here.

Asher was going to die.

Because I was going to kill him.

Theo was sitting at a chair in the middle of the boardroom across from me, a file on the table in front of him.

“What the hell is this?” I didn’t bother waiting for a reply. I turned to leave but Asher was standing in the doorway, blocking my escape. “You’re a bastard. Why did you bring me here?” I narrowed my eyes accusatorily.

His voice was calm as he tilted his chin down. “Hear him out.”

“I can’t believe you ambushed me,” I huffed. “I trusted you.”

“I didn’t tell you that he wasn’t here, I just didn’t mention it.” I shook my head at his lame excuse and turned around to look at Theo. I would deal with Asher later.

“Why aren’t you in London? Don’t you live there now?” I didn't bother mentioning that Asher had told me he was back at the house. Didn't need him thinking that I cared. That I was asking questions about him.

“I have a business proposition for you.”

I frowned, not liking the gleam in his eyes. He was acting like the detached businessman I first met who offered me a job with my boss in the same room.

“Too bad for you. I don’t work for Elevate anymore.”

I didn’t bother telling him how I had my first call scheduled with Edward to talk about a position with the Maria Knight Memorial Fund. Theo’s eyes pinged to Asher and then back to me.

“Did you get fired? I made it very clear when we closed our account with Elevate that it didn’t have anything to do with you and we were thrilled with your work. I’ll call—”

I interrupted him. “I wasn’t fired.” I hated myself for liking that he cared so I tried to shove a wall in place between my feelings and me. “I quit.”

“Why?” he asked with a tilt of his head.

I let out a sigh. “That’s none of your concern. This isn’t why I’m here. Tell me what you want, so I can reject it. I need to get back to Ash’s and get myself together. I’m taking a flight tomorrow.”

Decision made, I needed to leave. Seeing him made it very clear I wasn’t anywhere close to moving on.

“Fine. Sit down.” His blue-grey eyes pierced me and then he quirked an eyebrow at the chair across from him as if daring me not to.

I looked back at Asher who was already pulling the door closed. Leaving the two of us here alone. I glared at the door for a moment before I sat, keeping my back straight. Not sure what the hell we could possibly be doing here.

“What is it, Knight?”

His jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed slightly.

Literally everyone but me used his last name. Using it had been my way of keeping some distance. I needed the distance so I could hear his offer, turn him down, and then get the hell out of here and leave him behind like he did to me.

“My father got wind that I was considering opening an office in New York and decided to try and get leverage on me. When he heard I was dating someone, he had you investigated,” he said as he tapped his finger on the thick file in front of him. My eyebrows rose in surprise. “I only found out about it a little over a month ago.”

“What could he possibly have found on me? Considering I haven’t even had a speeding ticket before I can’t imagine he found anything that would give them that big of a folder.”

“He didn’t find anything on you.” I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear as he watched me closely. I didn’t know if it was for my reaction or if it was because he took over tucking my hair for me when we were together.

I wondered if he missed it as much as I did.

“Okay…”

“When he couldn’t find anything on you, he turned to look at your family.”